Building or Upgrading a Parts Washer

[69_hafton]

There's nothing as frustrating as buying something twice. Not only did I not get the right parts washer the first time, the pump casing was cracked and leaked like crazy right from the start. Due to how long it took to get it and the price was right, I kept it since I had projects waiting.

What it is, is a 20 Gallon Harbor Freight parts washer (see attached pic) I should have done more research, but since I've already got it, I was looking for a way to upgrade it to more what I'm used to with ones I've used before from Safety-Clean. What I want is for the solvent to be stored below the tub, rather than in the tub like the HF one was designed to do. I need to upgrade the pump to a submersable one for use for pumping flameable liquids. I see on HF website they've got a 30 Gal. parts washer that sits on a barrel that is more like I'm used to. I'm thinking about either setting a 5 gallon bucket under mine, or finding a barrel to use as a pedestal. Any thoughts would be appreciated before I spend some money?

Please let's not start a HF bashing session, they're already understood as a necessary evil.

Maybe there's a better forum than this one, if so please move my post as needed.

[powerdriver 1958]

Find a safety clean man,I bought the parts for my washer right off the guy

[Restrorob]

I looked at that HF washer a couple years ago but saved a few bux and bought a Clarke from my local Tractor Supply store.

For the amount of cleaning I do anymore, The Clarke with the tray that holds what your cleaning out of the solvent works just fine.

I built a washer 20+ years ago using a 35/40 gal. drum for a tank and split 55 gal drum for a sink, I just checked the place I got the pump from and their now getting $87 for the flammable liquid pumps.